Talks to merge police and council services

West Mercia Police have confirmed that they are in talks with the council about using a hub model at the Civic Centre, Elizabeth Drive – similar to the one at Evesham Community Contact Centre.

Both sides have said the talks are in early stages and could not confirm if the move would result in job losses or the closure of Pershore police station to the public.

In February, West Mercia approved plans to cut the opening hours of front counter services at its Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich and Pershore stations.

At the time, Chief Constable David Shaw described the move as a stepping stone towards more co-location deals between the force and local councils.

The news comes a few weeks after West Mercia announced that it would be entering into an alliance with Warwickshire Police in a bid to make joint savings of £30 million by 2015/16, resulting in 650 job losses across both forces.

Vic Allison, Wychavon’s deputy managing director, said: “We’re currently looking into the possibility of sharing a front desk with Pershore police stat-ion, as we do in Evesham.

“It wouldn’t see a reduction in opening hours and would provide a more comprehensive joined up service to the public, while providing efficiency savings for all of us.”

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said the talks were in early stages.

Evesham Community Contact Centre opened in 2003 as a partnership between Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council, Evesham Town Council and the West Mercia Police Authority.

The Abbey Road centre acts as a front desk in terms of calling for an officer where needed, paying fixed penalties and reporting lost or stolen property, as well as services such as benefits information, hou-sing advice, council tax payments, Job Centre Plus and Trading Standards.

A spokesman for Wychavon said it was too early to say in what way the move would provide efficiency savings and when it would be implemented, if it were to go ahead.